The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1887-10-19
TEXAS TRAIN ROBBERS.
PLUCKY CONDUCT OF A SOUTHERN Pa
ClFlc MESSENGER.
A Second Robber Killed While Carrying
OF the Body of Dead Companion
Pursuit of the Harris County Gang.

A Second Robber Killed While Carrying
OF the Body of Dead Companion
Pursuit of the Harris County Gang.
Ell PAso, Oct. 1910. E. Smith. the Wells,
Fargo & Co. express messenger who slew
the two train robbers last night, was seen by
s reporter this morning at the Southern Pa
cific depot. He made the following state
ment:
About o'clock last evening left Ell
Paso on the Galveston, Houston and San An
tonic Railroad on the through east bound pas
senger train as express messenger for Wells,
Fargo & Co. About half way between Ell
Paso and Ysleta the train stopped. heard a
slot and thought it was track signal tor
pedo. then heard loud swearing. and on
sticking my head out of the door saw man
firing revolver. I blew out the lights, and
with Mr. Beardsley, clerk at the Fort Worth
office, who was in the Car with me, retired to
the back part of the car. AS l did this the
robbers put giant powder i'll place and blew
the door open.
II told Beardsley we had better get out.
So he got out first with his gun on his per-
son. As stepped down / left my gum in
the middle of the door on the floor. My in
tention was to hit the robber as I landed
with my fist and knock him down, and then
grab my six-shooter, but Beardsley WAS
rather between us and / could not reach him.
The robber then wanted to get i'll and
strike light, and I volunteered my services,
my foot on the car floor caught hold of my
gun, and, turning quickly. placed it at the
The ball went directly through his heart, and
HE FELL OVER DEAD
with gurgling sound.
1.-THE other robber then fired at me, and
the ball missed my head abont the sixteenth
of an inch. fired back, and came near hit
ting tho engineer. The other rohber then
deliberately carried his dead pal to the engine
and ordered the fireman to put him on it, at
the same time asking the latter what was the
hurt pretty bad And he was hurt so bad
that he will never hold up another train in
this world.
'Just at this iuncture I, who had been
peeping at the second robber to get shot,
but was prevented.on account OF the fireman
q few feet, and my opportunity had arrived.
| quickly seized il, and grasped a single
barrel shotgun and fired. The second victim
reeled and uttered death-like sound, but
ran away. He was not found until this
morning, when his corpse, cold and stiff,
and his face and body
RIDDLED WITH BuCKsHoT
and covered with blood. was discovered in a
little gully not fifty feet away"
He, was, found by Deputy United States
Marshal Van Ripper, who brought the body
into.the city on a hand car.
II killed the leader the first shot" ,ex-
claimed Smith. and that's what did it. The
object of the second man in getting his pard
on the engine was to nnhook the iron horse
and get away from the authorities without
leaving a clew!"
Marshal White and United States Deputy
Marshals Van Ripper and Ross and a posse are
securing the woods for the third man. Al
though Smith did not see but two men, three
Indians are on the track OF the third lhan
and claim that he was present:
The robbers names, found OH their per-
sons are J. S. Emerson and Bernard NJ. De-
chard. The first named WIS the first killed.
The railroad boys at the Southern Pacific
as the gang that was playing ball in front of
the depot day CT two ago. Both OF them
look nearly alike. On Dechard was found a
memorandum book with n buclsshot hole
through it.. A plain gold ring. an imitation
diamond ring and ST. 10 in money was
q half feet tall, and about twenty-five or
| twenty-six years old. He was we'll dressed in
blue suit.
The other robber,J. L. Emerson, was about
feet tall, wei shed probably ITO pounds, and
had auburn ha;r and smooth face, except a
stuhby beard. He was muscular fellow.
| On his person was fonna 81 As i'll money and
check for a trunk issued at Terre Haute,
Ind. Sept. "a.
MESSENGER SMITH
will receive $4,000 for his little lob last night.
| The Southern Pacific has q $4,000 St3Dljnr
| offer for each man, and Wells, Fargo Il 20.
never fail to come 10 time.
A beautiful gold medal, enc that will be o
| fitting tribute, in engraved letters, to Mes.
| Ell Paso.
| freight was Immediately behind the pas-
| senger. Henry Campbell, passenger brake
man, pnt out his light and at once ran, back
past his head, but he ran on about three
miles and stopped the freight, thereby avoid
ing a terrible accident.
The Old saying that a woman is at the bot
tom of everything IL true again. Messenger
Smith had fine basket of grapes for his girl
reporter that it was this little token of
love" that caused HIM to defend and fight at
the risk of his life. Smith was the coolest
person among the whole number os citizens
OF last night IS if 1t was III his line Of bust
ness, and says he was not i'll the least excited
or unnerved until he job was completed,
when he felt.a little sick at his stomach.
This morning a subscription list was put
in circulation to raise funds for the brave ex-
press agent. A number Of persons have
already signed it. 1t is now in the Office of
the Capitol Hotel and viii no doubt receive
many signatures Other lists will be started
along the line of the road from here to the
| Rio GraGdc.
The theory of the robbery is that the pals
| of the .WO men on the train were waiting
with horses little beyond where the train
was held I'D. The shots fired by the two
robbers were the signals thai after getting
| their plumber the two robbers intended TO
run forward with the engine and leave the
rest Of the train.
Smith to Receive $1,000 from the State.
AUSTIN, Oct. 15.-T:he Governor has tele-
graphed for an official statement of the kill
ing of the train robber near Ell Paso, and if
the facts are as reported, the mail agent will
receive 81 600 upon demand. 1t is known
the Governor declared in the conference with
the railway officials, when the propricty OF
arming the train men was bsng discussed,
| that one determined man. armed with a
double-barreled shotgun and protected by
his car, could whip OF the tain robbers, and
his declaration has been VI lied.
In justice to the Governor it may be fur ther
said that he at the time placed the Ranger
| force at accessible points, and authorized
| the railway companies to use them at Will as
! guards upon the trains.
| HON. JEFFERSON DAYS..
He Agrees To Visit Athens, Ca, if His
Health will Permit.
MISSISSIPPI Cry, Oct. 15.-Last evening